NOT ASHAMED! Pt. 2
“O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker
(Psalm 95:6).
We must not be ashamed of praying in public
If prayer is part of our lives, we’ll pray anywhere. We’ll pray with people in shops, in restaurants, and in the street if they are in need of prayer. Paul tells about the believers in Tyre who “all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed” (Acts 21:5). This was not in church, but in public. They not only prayed together, but kneeled down and prayed. It is easy to pray in your heart in public when no one knows what you are doing, but if you kneel down and pray, they certainly will. I’m not talking about making a show of praying, but there are times when the situation calls for prayer and that could mean kneeling!
My sister, Kate, was burdened by the Lord to pray for the city of Franklin. God impressed upon her to not only pray at home, but to pray in the city square. She has now been praying for three years in the Franklin Square, each Friday lunch time, along with others who join her. One day, no one came to join her. While she was standing alone praying in her heart, she felt the Holy Spirit ask her to kneel down and pray. Although feeling very embarrassed, she did not want to quench the Holy Spirit and therefore kneeled to pray. Oh for hundreds of believers to kneel in the streets of our cities to pray for them.
Jeremiah 29:7 tells us to pray for the peace of the city in which we live. It’s not just a good idea, it’s a command from “The Lord of hosts” who is the Great Warrior, the Lord of the armies of Heaven (Jeremiah 29:4-7). This command was given to the Jews in Babylon. Daniel was one of them and he obeyed the word of the Lord and “kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God” (Daniel 6:10). He continued to do this even when there was a law against it and his life was at stake! (Daniel 6:11-13).
Recently in Tennessee the ACLU came against a school where the football team and coach bowed their heads for one minute silent prayer. They didn’t even pray out loud, but received flack for it. What a blessing to see people rise up in response to the accusations. Thousands came to the next game (more than ever before). Before the match, once again they gave time for a minute of silent prayer. As the crowd bowed their heads in silence, one person began to speak the Lord’s Prayer OUT LOUD. Soon the whole crowd joined in! What a victory. It only takes one person to stand up. Will you be one who takes the first step? Will I?
We must not be ashamed of having children
Psalm 127:4-5 says, “As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall NOT BE ASHAMED, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.”
Society tries to put shame on families who have more than the status quo two children. But who is really unusual? It’s families who deliberately limit their families! I’m not talking about those who are physically unable to have children, but to intentionally stop having children is contrary to anything written in God’s Word. In fact, God says that the families who are blessed with many children will not be ashamed!
They are raising children to bring more of God and His ways into this world. They are raising mighty warriors who will know the truth and know how to speak the truth.Some will even speak for God in the gates of cities of nations! They are raising arrows to attack the enemy’s kingdom. They are molding children for eternity. No, they need never be ashamed. They can lift their heads high for they are walking in the perfect will of God. No matter what anyone says, they will not be intimidated by their antagonists!
More next week.
Love from NANCY CAMPBELL
PRAYER:
“Thank you, Father that I do not need to be ashamed when I am walking in your will. I know that Your thoughts are higher than my thoughts, and Your ways are higher than my ways. Please help me to walk in your ways, even when they are counter-culture. Amen.”
AFFIRMATION:
“I'm not ashamed to let you know
I want this light in me to show.
I'm not ashamed
To speak the Name of Jesus Christ.” (Newsboys)
SCRIPTURES ABOUT KNEELING:
God wants us to kneel before Him:
Psalm 95:6.
Jesus kneeled to pray:
Luke 22:41.
Examples of people kneeling before the Lord:
1 Kings 8:54; 2 Chronicles 6:13; Daniel 6:10; Psalm 109:24; Luke 5:8; Acts 7:59-60; 9:60; 20:36; 21:5 and Ephesians 3;14.
One day every knee will bow before God.
Isaiah 45:23; Romans 14:11 and Philippians 2:10.